Wazzup Pilipinas!?
When residents of Michigan turned on their taps back in
2014, they encountered an unpleasant brown sludge that tasted like metal.
In India, tap water looks clear, but when you investigate
the data, India is ranked 120th out of 122 nations for its quality of water.
In the Philippines, we feel our tap water is safe to drink
because it looks clear and it tastes normal. To some extent, it is true because
if water is clear it means there are no visible suspended impurities present in
your water and it tastes normal because the TDS(Total dissolved solids) level
in your water is within acceptable levels.
The best way to tell exactly what's in our water is to have
it professionally tested, but there are a few ways to screen for contaminants
using our senses.
Here are some signs that your tap water might not be safe to
drink.
Check for cloudiness
Water that's safe to drink should ideally be clear with no
odor or funny taste. One way to tell if water is contaminated is to look for
turbidity, or cloudiness. While cloudy water isn't necessarily dangerous to
your health, it could signal the presence of unsafe pathogens or chemicals.
Yellow, orange, or brown water is never a good sign.
Yellow water could signal the presence of chromium-6, the
cancer-causing chemical that resulted in a lawsuit filed by clean water
advocate Erin Brockovich. It might also be a sign of a buildup of iron,
manganese, copper, or lead. If your water comes from a public system, check to
see whether the yellow tint only appears while running cold water, which could
be a sign that your utility is simply clearing out its pipes.
Water that's orange or brown could also contain excess iron,
manganese, or lead, or signal the presence of rust, which can breed bacteria.
Smells like bleach
Chlorine is deliberately added to most water supply to kill
germs and pathogens, but when it mixes with other organic compounds it can
create a few harmful byproducts.
One of these byproducts, a group of chemicals known as
trihalomethanes (THMs), has been linked to kidney problems and increased cancer
risk. Another, known as haloacetic acids (HAAs), causes skin irritation and
could also increase cancer risk.
Low levels of chlorine in the water system can also expose
people to a parasite called giardia that causes diarrhea, cramps, and nausea.
Water that smells like bleach could be a sign of excess
chlorine in your local system.
The smell of rotten eggs
Water that smells like sewage or rotten eggs could contain
hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas that can naturally occur in groundwater. When
this gas is exposed to certain bacteria, it converts into sulfate, which can
cause dehydration or diarrhea.
water smells fishy
Fishy-smelling water could signal an excess of barium, a
naturally-occurring chemical that can seep into a water supply through drilling
or manufacturing. When barium is present above the EPA's recommended levels, it
could cause increased blood pressure, muscle weakness, or kidney, liver, and
heart damage.
Water that smells fishy might also contain cadmium, a
chemical found in lead and copper ores, which often leaches into pipes through
industrial waste. Exposure to elevated levels of cadmium in drinking water can
cause kidney, liver, and bone damage.
Water is the lifeline of any home especially for us
Filipinos. Beyond drinking it, we use it to bathe, cook and clean things like
dishes and clothes. That makes having clean, quality water all the more
important. Depending on the source of the water, it can contain various degrees
of harmful contaminants like chemicals, sediments and organic matter. Even treated water sources from cities
and towns might not be in the best condition. This is where a home water filter
system can be handy. These systems take the water that enters your home
from a single source and treats it to remove these various harmful
contaminants.
Author Bio:
Darvin Tocmo is the Digital Marketing Strategist for Kemique Water Soluzione. Kemique Water Soluzione is the leading water solutions company in the Philippines. We offer water treatment, sewage treatment, and commercial water system solutions.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
